Advent Prayer

Lately friends, I’ve found myself a bit at a loss for words, not really knowing how to pray for some things. Several years ago, I learned from Beth Moore (& others) to go to the living, breathing Word of God, asking Him to give me words for prayer.

Three days ago, my Pastor invited me to deliver the morning prayer for the second Sunday in Advent. Having no idea what words would even begin to form that prayer, I said yes. Not even 30 minutes later, in Praise & Worship rehearsal I learned the following song by “Mercy Me.”


God had given me the start of that prayer. Then later, in a quiet time with Him, God gave me the rest, through His Word:

Dear Holy & Mighty God,
I’m finding myself at a loss for words, & the funny thing is, it’s okay.
The last thing I need is to be heard, but to hear what You would say.

Word of God speak, would you pour down like rain,
Washing my eyes to see Your majesty.
To be still & know that You’re in this place,
Please let me stay & rest, in Your Holiness.
Word of God speak.

I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let my foot slip – he who watches over me will not slumber;
Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over me – the Lord is my shade at my right hand;
The sun will not harm me by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep me from all harm – He will watch over my life;
The Lord will watch over my coming & going, both now & forever more. (Psalm 121)

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given,
And the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government & peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne & over his kingdom,
Establishing & upholding it with justice & righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9: 6-7)

I’m finding myself at a loss for words, & the funny thing is, it’s okay,
The last thing I need is to be heard, but to hear what You would say.

Word of God speak, would you pour down like rain,
Washing my eyes to see Your majesty.
To be still & know that You’re in this place,
Please let me stay & rest, in Your Holiness.
Word of God speak…

Lately, friends, I’ve found myself at a loss for words, but the funny thing is, it’s okay…

Indeed, & amen.

~~~

Mumbai

On another blog, I happened upon some commentary about the Mumbai, India story. In the blog commentary, a contributor made a case for not blaming Islam in the whole terrorists-who-want-to-kill-the-world thing (light-hearted tone intentional). After all, Hitler claimed himself a Christian, but we don't blame Christianity for the Holocaust.

Now, I’m a reasonable person. I know there are few bad apples in every cart. But using the sense God graciously scraped up for me, & falling back on my oh-so-human-nature, wouldn't I be foolish NOT to be suspicious of the rest of those apples, especially when I make my pie? Here’s what the commenter said:

“Who killed most innocent people? Of course it was Hitler. He was a Christian. For this, can we blame Christianity? No we can’t. Nowhere in the holy Bible written, kill innocent people. Terrorists inside the mask of Muslim want to destroy Islam.”

And here’s my point:

Thanks for the reminder about Hitler. Though, am I mistaken? Did Hitler scream "God is Great" while murdering Jews? Did he execute his brand of human cleansing (God have mercy...) in the name of Christianity? No eyewitness here, but somehow, I don't think so. I'm no scholar of Islam, but all the evidence to date points to some of its adherents skewing it toward absolutely murderous ends (& claiming the religion as their impetus). Meanwhile, others of its adherents are NOT DEMANDING THAT IT STOP!

So. Hitler was a horrendous blight on the face of Germany (& humanity, if we're honest). But what he did - it seems to me - was in the name of conceited, racist, narcissistic, molten hate; not in the name of Christianity. Thus, you're right, commenting friend. We cannot blame the religion that Hitler claimed, but we could perhaps blame a Germany that allowed Nazism to reign...and wouldn't WWII era folks have been right to suspect, surveil, & be wary of the average German? (Come on, now; we deny survival instincts at our own peril.)

Because terrorist claims & my instincts are all I have to go on, I have to take them at their word, believing they kill in the name of Islam. I have to believe them. It’s a matter of self preservation & survival.

So commenting friend, I'll beg to differ with you. As I see it, terrorists don't want to destroy Islam, as you assert. They want to destroy everything that is NOT Islam.

What does this mean for us? Are we to hate Muslims? Certainly not, & heaven forbid. But are we to wait in the wings, watching the 'cleansing' play out, ignoring that it is being done in the name of Islam? Certainly not, & heaven forbid, truly. If Hitler’s case can be used as an object lesson here, it should be as a mirror, to show us our mistakes. History tells us that the Nazi offenders were initially ignored, then cajoled & placated (i.e., standard fare diplomacy), instead of identified, confronted & stood down. The 'global community' of the 30's & early 40's were cowards, until they finally quit hitting snooze & woke up. The ultimate cost of their cowardice would become upwards of 10 million lives & a global war.

Let's use our friend's suggestion & consider Hitler, knowing we can use it to mirror our former selves. How will we respond? How will Muslims worldwide respond? As so many Germans did - quietly, softly whispering their discomfort? or even joining in as the movement mounted steam? How will the global community respond this time? Swiftly, & in no uncertain terms, I hope, but it seems that 'standard fare diplomacy' may be back in fashion.

Even if I'm the only one sounding the buzzer (& I know I'm not), I'm saying it’s time to wake up again, people. ALL people - Christians, Muslims, Jews - all. Don't you hear it? The alarm clock has been blaring for quite some time.

~~~